‘The Kasai Company had a lucrative relationship with the African people. For minimal sums it bought their raw products and services and then it recovered even those small sums by selling the people articles for which they had acquired a taste while working for the white man. This is commonly known as “the civilizing mission,” and is particularly successful when associated with a culture that teaches shame for a people’s original tastes. Disseminating at the same time religious dictums about poverty and humility does not distract from this useful principle.’ — Andrée Blouin, My Country, Africa

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